Comparison of executive functions in disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objective The aim of the current study was to compare the executive functioning of children with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) with matched groups of children diagnosed with ADHD and typically developing children (TD). Groups were matched in terms of age, gender, and IQ. Methods A total of 41 children aged 6–12 years old with DMDD (N = 11), ADHD (N = 15) and TD (N = 15) performed GO/NO-GO, N-Back, CPT tasks to assess executive functions of inhibition, working memory, and attention, respectively. Their parent completed BDEFS-CA. Results The analyses of variances indicated significant differences in all EF tasks between both groups of ADHD and DMDD and those of TD children. There were no significant differences between ADHD and DMDD children. In the Go/No-Go task, individuals with DMDD obtained greater scores in Commission error and Reaction times than ADHD and TD groups. In the N-back task, both DMDD and ADHD groups were similar, and they obtained less rate than typical individuals. While we found no significant differences in both ADHD and DMDD groups in the CPT task. Conclusion TD children outperformed all children diagnosed with DMDD and ADHD in all EF tasks.